PetFlow Review 2023: Is This Pet Food Store Any Good?

Overview

PetFlow is an online pet food store with more than 300 different options available for dogs and cats. In addition to food, there are treats, training tools, toys, and more available to purchase. It’s a great solution for people who know what they want for their pets and are looking for an easy way to get it.

I’ve done all the research on the company, read tons of customer reviews, and walked through the sign-up process. As a result, I can bring you all the necessary information to help you decide if this is the right service for you.

The company also believes in giving back. So for every purchase made on the website, PetFlow gives a bowl of food to a dog or cat in the shelter system. However, you may find the return policy quite inflexible. If this leaves you unsure about purchasing from PetFlow, you should check out Chewy – a similar service with a much better return policy.

PetFlow Meals

Plans and Recipes

PetFlow carries a huge variety of different dog and cat food brands, but it doesn’t create its own recipes. You can find all kinds of protein options and choose from both dry and wet food. You won’t find any specific customized meal plans, but you can choose from a wide assortment of food options so you’ll be sure to find what works best for your pet.

PetFlow’s site carries 300+ brands, so you’ll be spoilt for choice. Bestsellers include brands like Nutrisource, Hill Science, and Taste of the Wild. You can even sort food by where each brand is made. Shop using 1 of the filters, or just search for your usual brand and order exactly what you need.

On the flip side, PetFlow doesn’t carry fresh recipes that need special transport (chilled containers). So if you want to feed your pets fresh food recipes like the ones from JustFoodForDogs, you should browse Chewy’s offer.

Ingredients

Each food and treat option has a full outline of the ingredients and nutritional facts. It’s easy to check for any allergens or ingredients that you want to avoid. There’s even a section of allergy-friendly food items to sort through and find options like fish-free, beef-free, poultry-free, and egg-free dog food.

You can also filter based on the Type of Food (air-dried, dry, wet, freeze-dried, supplements, and so on). Other filters you may find useful include Main Ingredient, Breed Size, and Special Condition. This last one lets you filter food based on your dog’s health conditions.

However, stores like PetFlow only offer the information provided by each brand. PetFlow doesn’t do any checkups of ingredient tracking like Open Farm does, so make sure you trust the brands you’re purchasing.

Nutrition

Each food item on the website comes with detailed nutrition details. These include a list of ingredients, a Guaranteed Analysis, information on calories, and feeding instructions. You’ll see the calorie count per cup plus the breakdown of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture.

These numbers are important for both healthy pups and dogs with health problems. You can use the list of ingredients and Guaranteed Analysis to understand how the food will impact your dog’s health, and the Feeding Instructions help you understand how much to feed to keep your pooch at a healthy weight.

What Makes It Different

Every company tries to stand out from the competition and attract more customers to their products. But nowadays, discounts and nice packaging aren’t enough to compete with the main brands in the niche.

There are 3 main characteristics that may turn you into a loyal PetFlow customer. It’s much more than an online store that features a combination of pet food brands and other items.

PetFlow Gives Back to Pets in Need

When you buy from PetFlow, you’re also helping pets who don’t have a forever home and loving pet parents. For each order shipped, 1 bowl of food is donated to shelters that are in collaboration with PetFlow. This way, shelters spend less on food and can use the money for medical bills or other things pets in their care need.

Of course, PetFlow isn’t the only online pet store that collaborates with animal shelters. For instance, Chewy has a more extensive program where customers can donate all sorts of items to the animal shelters that work with the brand.

Auto-Ship System

PetFlow makes it easy to put your favorite items on repeat. This way, you can make sure you’ll never run out of food because you forgot to renew the weekly or monthly order. Plus, PetFlow’s Auto-Ship system is flexible when it comes to frequency and the products on your order.

You can also create multiple recurring orders for all your pets. Auto-Ship customers also receive special discounts and promotions in their inboxes.

Pharmacy Section

PetFlow has a Pharmacy section where you can find items specially designed to help with certain health problems. The section offers medication, prescription diets, over-the-counter vitamins, supplements, grooming-related products, and more.

While the offer is extensive, there may be treatments, supplements, or products the company doesn’t offer. If this is the case, check PetCareRX’s offer. This is 1 of the most reliable online pet pharmacies out there, and its virtual shelves are better-stocked.

Unboxing

PetFlow ships in 100% recyclable boxes that are partially made with recycled material. However, keep in mind that PetFlow doesn’t have its own products, and each brand uses different packaging materials. So, the company isn’t responsible for the packaging of the items you purchase.

Each food item has all of the information on how much to feed printed on the bag/container. The amount of food will vary according to your pooch’s size. You also have access to this information on the PetFlow website once you click on the product you want to purchase. So it’s easily accessible. Storage requirements differ by product type as well.

Prices

No matter what your budget is, you’ll find something at PetFlow. The number of different brands and varieties of food listed on the PetFlow site is just huge. The featured deals are always listed at the top of the page, so you can check those out first. You can also use the price range toggle on the left side of the shopping page to select your price range and show options that fall in line with that.

If you opt for the auto-ship option, you’ll have access to exclusive discounts and promotions. Plus, you’ll not just save money for each discounted order, you’ll also save time if you tend to order the same thing each month.

With shipping, you’ll pay $5.95 per order unless you spend more than $49, and then it’s free.

If you do want to return something, the return policy’s pretty strict. PetFlow will only take back items over $10 (unless you pay for shipping yourself), and it must be unopened. Even if you only opened 1 can out of a pack, it’s not eligible to be returned because the entire case needs to be unopened.

Shipping & Delivery

PetFlow currently ships to all of the lower 48 states in the United States. Orders can be placed any day and at any time.

PetFlow generally ships all non-prescription food orders right away, and the orders typically arrive 2-3 days after the order is placed. Non-food orders take a bit longer, with an average of 7-10 days from placing the order.

If you do have prescription food orders, the timing will depend on your veterinarian. That’s because PetFlow will request their confirmation for the prescription, so it depends on how long it takes your vet to respond.

Once the order is placed, you’ll receive a tracking number via email within 24 hours. This is helpful as it lets you track the order until it reaches your doorstep. If you’re signed up for the auto-ship, you can reschedule or skip a delivery at any time using your online account.

How to Sign Up

1. Set up an account – for this, you’ll need to access the PetFlow website and enter your email and desired password. If you have a Facebook account, you can use it instead of your email.

2. Start adding products to your cart – once you’ve created an account, start shopping and add anything you need to your cart. If you want to set a recurring order, select the auto-ship option. This way, you won’t need to reorder food and treats each month. The order will automatically ship to you.

3. Check-out – during the check-out process, you’ll be asked to choose the delivery frequency of your auto-ship and enter your billing details. Submit once everything looks good.

4. Check your email – you should receive your order confirmation and tracking number. Once you get these, the products will be on their way to your door.

Managing Your Subscription

You’ll see your account information in the top right-hand corner of the page when you log into PetFlow’s website. You can check your order history, manage your auto-ship orders, and even refer a friend and receive a $10 credit when they place their first order.

Customer Service

PetFlow offers 3 different options to contact the customer service team. You can call or text them from 9 AM to 10 PM EST. And you can use the live chat feature and get a response back within 1 business day. The company also lists several social media channels, but it only seems active on Facebook.

PetFlow offers an extensive Help Center section that’s searchable and covers the major FAQs. There’s also a blog where you can read about various topics, such as pet health and food recommendations.

Canceling your PetFlow order may be possible if it’s a prescription item that hasn’t been approved by a veterinarian. You’ll need to call or submit a ticket via the website.

PetFlow Recalls

PetFlow communicates any recalls to customers on brands that it carries and stays current with any new updates on current stock.

How PetFlow Compares to Other Pet Food Services

• PetFlow vs. Chewy: Chewy is an online pet store with a similar format to PetFlow that carries a wide range of brands. Chewy’s offer is more varied in both the types of foods and brands and the return policy is a lot more user-friendly. And, just like with PetFlow, you can order as much or as little as you want from Chewy.

• PetFlow vs. Open Farm: Open Farm is a pet food brand that offers options for dogs and cats. You can use the same A la Carte system that’s available on PetFlow, but there are no other brands available on the website. Also, Open Farm is well-known for its transparency when it comes to the source of ingredients.

• PetFlow vs. PetCareRx: PetCareRX is an online pet pharmacy that offers an extensive selection of medications, treatments, supplements, vitamins, and anything else your dog or cat might need for their health. The company also offers pet food from different brands, but it’s mostly focused on prescription and veterinary diets.

The Bottom Line: Is PetFlow Worth It?

Yes, PetFlow can be a great option if you like shopping from different brands and you have different pets in your care. Plus, you’re getting food for your pets and helping feed shelter animals at the same time.

But if you’re looking for a better return policy, you should check out Chewy’s offer. The prices are similar and Chewy also features a wide range of brands, food items, and other products. Plus, Chewy runs more promotions and offers a more advanced auto-ship feature.

FAQ

Is PetFlow cheaper than Chewy?

PetFlow prices are comparable to other online pet food stores, like Chewy. This is especially true when you take into consideration the auto-ship discount and other deals. When comparing the 2, Chewy’s return policy comes on top, but the prices are somewhat at a similar level.

Where does PetFlow ship from?

With warehouses in New Jersey and Nevada, PetFlow is able to ship quickly to almost anywhere in the country. Food deliveries usually arrive within 3 days from purchase, and non-food items come within a week.

Does PetFlow have diets for different allergies?

PetFlow has an entire section of the site dedicated to food for different allergies. You can sort by the allergy itself or get the full list of ingredients for each type of food. With hundreds of brands, the selection can accommodate any dietary needs of your pet.